The 2017–18 Volvo Ocean Race is the 13th edition of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race. It started in Alicante, Spain on 22 October 2017, and will conclude in The Hague, Netherlands 30 Jun 2018.

Yachts: Volvo Ocean 65

Teams:

Team AkzoNobel

COUNTRY: Netherlands

They were the first to officially announce participating in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, more than 15 months before the start of the race. Team AkzoNobel is a brand-new Dutch ocean racing team backed by leading global paints and coatings company, AkzoNobel.The 2017–18 Volvo Ocean Race grand finale located in The Hague in June 2018. So the team AkzoNobel sailors will finally race into their home port.

Dongfeng

COUNTRY: China

Dongfeng Race Team are back for a second time at the Volvo Ocean Race. They lead by a French skipper Charles Caudrelier. The Dongfeng team finished on third place in 2014-15. It was impressive performanceThis time, the team is 100% backed by Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the Chinese motor manufacturer headquartered in the Hubei province city of Wuhan.

Caudrelier’s mixed crew will again include Chinese sailors – and the French skipper has boosted his squad with world-class offshore ocean racers from around the globe.

After great success in 2014-15 with the team even looking to go better – and win the Volvo Ocean Race for the first time in China’s history.

MAPFRE

COUNTRY: Spain

Team MAPFRE finishing in fourth place last time in 2015 and their goal is to win the Volvo Ocean Race trophy for the first time in Spain’s history.

Spanish boats have competed in eight of the previous 12 editions of the Volvo Ocean Race – formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race – but the country is still looking for a first win.

Skipper Xabi Fernández has built a mixed and multinational squad brimming with honours – from Olympic gold medallists and America’s Cup winners.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing

COUNTRY: USA/Denmark

Vestas are back in the Volvo Ocean Race. This time, their campaign is being run in full partnership with 11th Hour Racing, a programme of The Schmidt Family Foundation working to implement real change on marine health. The team has two core aims: to do well on the water and promote a sustainable message across the world.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing are led by the Americas Charlie Enright and Mark Towill, who had their first exooooperience of the Volvo Ocean Race in the last edition with Alvimedica.

They ended that race on a high, adding a victory in the final ocean leg to their two In-Port Race wins, and for this edition, they have twin goals – to do well on the water and promote a sustainable message across the world.

Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag

COUNTRY: Hong Kong

The team representing Hong Kong, the fifth team to join the next edition is backed by Hong Kong-based Seng Huang Lee and Sun Hung Kai & Co. Their aims is to promote competitive sailing and build a long-lasting youth sailing legacy in Asia.The team is skippered by experienced Australian sailor David Witt, who competed in the 1997-98 race onboard Innovation Kvaerner.

Team Turn the Tide on Plastic.

The team representing United Nations

It is skippered by Britain’s Dee Caffari, who leads a mixed, youth focused team with a strong sustainability message in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18. Her campaign, already backed by the Mirpuri Foundation and Ocean Family Foundation, is dedicated to the issue of ocean health.

The team’s guiding mission is to amplify United Nations Environment’s 'Clean Seas: Turn the Tide on Plastic' campaign throughout the eight months of the race.

Their crew is multinational, 50-50 male-female squad, with the majority under 30 years of age.

Team Brunel

COUNTRY: The Netherlands

They returns for a second consecutive edition – and fourth Volvo Ocean Race campaign – and is focused on creating opportunities for the next generation. A consortium of Dutch companies including Brunel, Abel, Royal Huisman and EY Team Brunel will support an initiative known as 'Engineering the Future’. Skipper Bouwe Bekking is back at the helm for his eighth attempt at the trophy, and keen to score an elusive first win.The most experienced sailor in the Volvo Ocean Race is Team Brunel skipper Bekking. He made his first appearance as a crew member on Philips Innovator back in 1985-86.

Vestas 11th Hour Racing have won Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race, crossing the finish line in the River Tagus in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday afternoon. It's a tremendous victory for American skipper Charlie Enright and his team.